Piophila
Encyclopedia
Piophila is a genus
of small two-winged flies which includes the species known as the cheese fly
. As a whole, the genus is often called wine flies; they prefer fermented
foodstuffs to deposit their eggs. Piophila vulgaris visits Arum maculatum
flowers in England.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small two-winged flies which includes the species known as the cheese fly
Cheese fly
Cheese flies are members of the family Piophilidae of flies. Most are scavengers in animal products and fungi. The best-known member of the family is Piophila casei. It is a small fly, about four mm long, found worldwide. The fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying...
. As a whole, the genus is often called wine flies; they prefer fermented
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
foodstuffs to deposit their eggs. Piophila vulgaris visits Arum maculatum
Arum maculatum
Arum maculatum is a common woodland plant species of the Araceae family. It is widespread across temperate northern Europe and is known by an abundance of common names including Wild arum, Lords and Ladies, Devils and Angels, Cows and Bulls, Cuckoo-Pint, Adam and Eve, Bobbins, Naked Boys,...
flowers in England.
Species
- Piophila casei (Linnaeus, 1758), the cheese flyCheese flyCheese flies are members of the family Piophilidae of flies. Most are scavengers in animal products and fungi. The best-known member of the family is Piophila casei. It is a small fly, about four mm long, found worldwide. The fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying...
. - Piophila penicillata (Steyskal, 1964)
- Piophila senescens (Melander & Spuler, 1917) (junior synonym – Piophila nigriceps (Macquart, 1851))
- Piophila vulgaris